‘The Lioness of Idaho’

Congressman Butch Otter rarely played second fiddle to anyone.

On Aug. 20, 2001, however, the Idaho Republican strummed his guitar contentedly and sang country classics while Louise Shadduck shined at the Blackwell House.

The GOP grand dame autographed copies of her new book, “Rodeo Idaho!” while Butch sang such favorites as “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys.”

At the time, Butch, a team roper, was likely the only U.S. representative who rodeoed.

Louise’s 335-page book honored Butch and a rodeo culture that permeates Idaho.

“I don’t know any other part of our society that is so active through the entire state,” she told Joe Butler of the Coeur d’Alene Press. “Even cattle, sheep, agriculture, recreation, and timber don’t go through the whole state.”

Raised on a dairy in the shadow of Canfield Mountain, Louise Shadduck was nicknamed “The Lioness of Idaho” — a woman who transformed politeness into political power. She was a pioneering female reporter for both The Press and The Spokesman-Review. Later, she ran for Congress and became the first woman in the country to serve in a state cabinet post.

“Rodeo Idaho!” was her fourth book.

Her third one remains a must-read for anyone thirsty for Coeur d’Alene history: “At the Edge of the Ice: Where Lake Coeur d’Alene and its People Meet.” She also penned books about the role of doctors in Idaho history and a biography of sheep king Andy Little.

The idea for “Rodeo Idaho!” took root at a book signing in Pocatello. After watching Louise sign books for hours, a “clean-looking man in field boots” asked her what she planned to write next. She was considering her future book about Coeur d’Alene.

According to The Press, the stranger then said, “It must be on Idaho rodeo. Idaho is a rodeo state. Idaho deserves a book on rodeo.”

The idea hit home. Louise recalled growing up with six brothers who staged mini rodeos with neighbors on the Shadduck property.

Louise knew the importance of cataloguing and recording anything to do with Idaho history, no matter how brief or how thorough. During her long life, which ended at age 92 in 2008, she often encouraged Idahoans to write down their stories and share memories.

“Our history is being lost at such a rate,” she said. “Even if it isn’t perfect or final, it’s of the benefit of the entire state for people to write down what they can, when they can.”

Hudson’s Evolution

Here’s a Hudson’s Hamburger primer for newcomers.

In 1907, Harley Hudson began his family dynasty in a crackerbox with a cloth roof on the north side of First and Sherman. Three generations of Hudsons followed him into the family business: son Howard, grandson Roger and great-grandsons Steve and Todd.

In the beginning, Harley called his place Missouri Kitchen and sold hamburgers for a dime, coffee for a nickel. So reported the Coeur d’Alene Press in a full-page history of Hudson’s Hamburgers on March 27, 1976.

By the time son Howard joined the business in the mid-1920s, Harley had moved his burger place to the south side of main street and changed its name to Missouri Lunch.

Now, fast forward almost 40 years.

The Missouri Lunch operated in the Hudson Building (now The Resort Plaza Shops) until Harley razed it and built a store for J.C. Penney on the site. In doing so, he again moved his restaurant across Sherman — to its current location at 207 Sherman Ave.

And he renamed the iconic business — Hudson’s Hamburgers.

Sadly, Harley died before finishing the Penney’s project.

Harley’s grandson, Roger, who joined the family enterprise in 1959, worked with his father until Howard died in 1974. Roger’s sons, Steve and Todd, ran things after Roger retired in 1996. Steve carried on the Hudson legacy after Todd died at age 53 in August 2017.

Swing and a Missus

In August 1976, The Press asked random women a Street Forum question that would be insulting to many today: “Should wives names be in the telephone book?”

Surprisingly, three of the six interviewees preferred the bicentennial status quo. They didn’t want their names listed in the phone book.

One wife said, “I like it the way it is. I’m not much of a women’s libber, and everybody who wants to can find me under my husband’s name.”

Two others supported the addition of wives’ names. A Post Falls woman said, “I work and help earn the family living, and I feel I should have equal recognition.”

One didn’t care, “It seems even without my name listed in the book, I get numerous calls at home.”

Oddly, The Press listed the women by their married names for the feature. Sue Kemmer, for example, was identified as “Mrs. Duane Kemmer” with her first name in parentheses below.

The times they have a-changed.

Huckleberries

• Poet’s Corner: The hot dog is a lurid meat / comprised of eyeballs, snouts and feet / and nameless organs pink and pasty — / yet even so I find it tasty — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“The Curse of Oscar Meyer”).

• Do-Over: On Aug. 24, 1986, the nine-story Park View Tower on Northwest Boulevard got a second life. And 1,200 window shoppers attended an open house to confirm it. Built by a California developer in 1983-84, the condo project ran into hard times. Enter Duane Hagadone to upgrade and market it and to add copper cupolas. And voila. Renamed Coeur d’Alene North, it joined The Coeur d’Alene Resort complex.

• Sky’s the Limit: Did you know that … Lake View Tower (Coeur d’Alene North) was expected to be the city’s last building of more than six stories? A new city ordinance of the early ’80s banned anything higher. The 10-story Lake View Tower (Lake Tower) already existed. And the 18-story Coeur d’Alene Resort was exempt under a planned unit development agreement. Obviously, the height restriction was short-lived.

• All That Jazz: In August 1986, producer Jim Loebig was sure the city would help fund Jazzfest at City Park for a fourth year. After all, the event attracted about 8,000 jazz lovers, and Mayor Ray Stone was a jazz musician. The city doled out $2,000 apiece for seniors and handicapped recreation. But it gave zilch to Jazzfest. Adding insult to injury, Stone drummed at the ’86 Jazzfest. The free event didn’t survive much longer.

• Answer Man: And the answer is — Bill Gillenwater. The question? Name the Hayden Lake principal who biked from Canada to Nogales, Mexico, in summer 1986 — 1,660 miles in 14 ½ days. Architect Dale Hickman rode with Bill for the first two days. Gillenwater saw rattlesnakes and suffered three flats. But he didn’t crash. Upon return, he began planning his next adventure — a coast-to-coast bike trip.

Parting Shot

During his six decades as Coeur d’Alene’s “Family Doctor,” Dr. E.R.W. (Ted) Fox delivered more than 4,000 babies. And he wasn’t finished.

In August 2001, at age 93 and five years retired, Dr. Fox faced one last “Delivery Day.”

The town was excited, too, especially the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club.

On Sept. 13, Rotarians had scheduled an open house for the venerable doctor and invited Dr. Fox’s maternal patients to bring their babies for a photo with him. As a bonus, Dr. Fox planned to officially deliver his new book, “The Joy of Healing,” a compilation of his “Doctor’s Office” columns from The Press.

Dr. Fox would donate all proceeds from book sales to help construct a new library.

Of his book, Dr. Fox said, “It’s a homey and personal thing. I didn’t want my face on the cover, but I was told it sells books.”

• • •

D.F. Oliveria can be contacted at [email protected].

    In 1956, Louise Shadduck, right, a congressional candidate, shook hands with Pat Nixon, wife of Vice President Richard Nixon, at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco.
  

    In 1907-08, founder Harley Hudson, left photo, was shown at his make-shift hamburger stand on Sherman Avenue. Decades later, his grandson, Roger, right photo, served a “Huddie” burger.
  

    In 1976, six women answered a Street Forum question posed by The Press. They were, from left, Sue Kemmer, Sandie Husby, Anita Orzol, Kay Agar, June Epstein, and Linda Rhodes.
  

    In 1986, Betty and Robert Cox inspected a fifth-floor bedroom during an open house for the refurbished and renamed Coeur d’Alene North.
  

    In 1986, promoter Jim Loebig struggled to raise $18,000 to fund the fourth annual Jazzfest.
  

    In 1986, principal Bill Gillenwater of Hayden Lake Elementary biked from Canada to Mexico in 14 ½ days.
  

    In 2001, respected Dr. E.R.W. (Ted) Fox was shown at his East Lakeshore Drive home with a copy of his new book, “The Joy of Healing.”